'Daredevil' loses artist Paolo Rivera

The artist is to pursue creator-owned work after concluding a ten-year exclusive contract with Marvel Comics.

Rivera made the announcement on his blog, referring to Marvel as "a company that I can only describe as family".

"From the moment that Joe Quesada hired me via email, I have gotten nothing but the best treatment from the most dedicated editorial and creative talent in the business," he continued.

"So why am I leaving? The short answer: ownership. With the exception of just a few published pieces of art (which belong to other companies), Marvel owns the copyrights to my entire professional portfolio.

"And why shouldn't they? I was, of course, compensated fairly for it, and for that I'm grateful - but the sum total of that work is not enough to support me in the distant future. My page rate is essentially the same as when I started at 21, so I've decided to invest in myself.

"What I create in the next decade needs to pay dividends when my vision gets blurry and my hands start to shake (and who knows what else). Now is the time to make that choice, while I'm still young, possess 'great power', but have few responsibilities."

Rivera said that he would continue to produce covers and select projects for Marvel.